Toy steeplechase



Oct. 14, 1930. c. w. PARKE 1,778,038

TOY STEEPLE CHASE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 23, 1927 INVENTOR Clarence WBcuJte,

Oct. 14, 1930.

C. W. PARKE TOII STEEPYLE CHASE Filed May 25 1 2' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 'C'LAEENCEW. rAnxE, or GARLAND, UTAH 'ror STEEPLECHASE Application filed May 23,

. scale and providing entertainment simulating ahorse race, in which a plurality of figures constructedfin'the likeness and form of horses may be caused to automatically traverse parallel courses, and the progress of which may be more or less impeded orjrev tarded to provide uncertainty in the outcome 7 of "a race, i

Incarrying out the'hereinabove primary object it is contemplated'to provide a plurallfiity of such figures having the torm othorses or other animals, with movable limbs and bodies, together with means for causing the animation ofthe figures in simulation'ofthe running and leaping movements of the animat-e beings which'they represent.

to provide a Itlis further contemplated plurality of parallelcour'ses', each of which is provided witha plurality of hurdles or other obstacles, through which the horses must move and over which they appear to leap, together with means automatically operable for eiiecting the movement and -;progress of the figures. 7 j

ill) is a further object toproVide means, not synchronized with but adapted to retard theprogress of the figures, individually and at irregular intervals, soJ-as tocau'se varia- Ttion'sinthe progress of .the'several figures, 'thus making it impossible to determine which of thefigures willtraversethegreatest distance in a predetermined length of time, j It is, of course, an object toprovide; a simple, efficient and economical amusement device, capableof being constructed in yarioussizes and with certain modifications within the scope of thefappende'd claims,

Without departing from the spiritfof my invention'..

'i In the accompanying drawings' I- have shown a preferred form of device, in which: .-.F ig. 1 is a perspective view 01": the assembled device, partly broken away 1 of the de- ,Fig, 2 isa longitudinal section 1927. Serial No. 193,552.

. Fig. '3 is a transverse section of the same on line 33 of Fig. 4; i I

Fig; 4 is a perspective view of the bottom shelf of the'device, showing the operating mechanism; v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view,.substantially enlarged, of a portion of the same; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of one gf'the figures and supporting means there- A Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of transversely movable chains with blocks thereon arranged to interrupt and retard the progress of the racing figures.

In its preferred 'form, my device is mounted on a table T having a top If and a bottom I), formed with a raised central portionb'. Said table may have side and end members 1 and 2, respectively, for enclosing the space between the top and bottom, and legs 3,3, etc., may also be provided for supporting the operatingme'chanism at a suitable elevation for use. The bottom b isequippedwith a plurality of continuous belts or carriers A, A, etc., each of which operates overa set of flanged pulleys. In the form of device shown I provide a set ofsix of such pu'lleys,"includ ing five idlerpulleys B, B, etc., and a single driving pulley B for each of the carriers A.

Said pulleys B and' B'fmay be of the same or different size and otherwise differ only in that the driving pulleys B are provided with rows of peripheral teeth 4, 4, etc., arranged near the upper and lower flanges 5, 5, for engagement with correspondingly formed and spaced apertures 6, 6, etc., near the upper andlower edges of the carriers A.

The carriers may be made of leather or other suitable material, and are adapted to be driven by' means of the pulleys B, while they operate over the idler pulleys B, B, etc., for conforming the carriers as nearly as possible to the approximate oval form of a race course. All of the pulleys B", B, etc.,lare mountedon a common longitudinal line and are supportedon a cast metal bracket C, rotatably carrying shafts g, g, etc., which are, held in bearings lab, etc., o'nfthe member C.

The shafts g, 9, etc., extend downwardly through the bottom'b" of the table and carry Worm gears D, D, etc, arranged to mesh with and to be driven by worms E, E, etc. All

of said worms are mounted on a single drive shaft F which is journaled as at 7 in bearings formed 011 and suspended from the bracket 0, and the shaft may be connected with an electric motor G by means of a suitable clutch 8. Shafts g, 9,. etc., aredifl'erentially connected with the drive pulleys B, B, etc, by

means of clutch devices interposed between the bearings h, it, etc, andsaid pulleys.

Said couplings may consist of cone clutch members 9 formed on or fixed to the shafts g, 9, etc, and engaging correspondingly formed recesses 10 formed-in thelower ends of the pulleysB. The upper ends of the shafts g are provided. with nuts ll land washers 12, whilesprings 13 areheld between the washers 12 and the bottoms of the recesses 1 1 formed in'the upper ends of the .pulleys for resiliently holding the pulleys in frictional engagement with the, clutch members'9. Thus the pulleys Bf are friction driven and the operation of the carriers'A maybe momentarily suspended,retarded or v stopped, as and for the purpose hereinafter 7 to form an ellipse or oval course; It is im-" portant only. that the slots should bB'i lpOSl approximately conform tothe carriers A, but

they may be more curved than shown in order tioned above the carriers A, and that the portions 18, .18, etc., thereof; should be ap f proximately over the pulleys 13,13, etc, and. JB, VB, etc.

The central portions li) and the portions 20, 20, etc., intermediate the slotsl7, 17, etc,

; maybe supportedon standards21, which are threaded at 22 and carry nuts 23 and washers 24 above and belowthe raised bottom portion 6 of they table. The upper endsof the members 21 are provided .with fla'nged members r- .25adapted to be attached tothe table topt by means of screwsor bolts-26 as shown in Therace course on the top of the table is provided with a pluralityof hurdles as I I,etc., each composed of a plurality of sec: 8 I tlonsrz', 2',

etc. spaced apart above the slots 17Land arranged in sets,-aslshown. The supporting members 1'6 of the figures Hinove through the slots 17,;,17, etc;,p between the hurdle ections j Thetubes116 are slidably mountedin sleeves 16 fixedly held in bearings j and j on holders J which are hingedly mounted therein on arms 30 and 31 of brackets K attachedto the carriers A, as shown in Fig.6. I

' The members K are provided with flanges 28, 28, which are riveted to thecarriers A at 29 and are provided with vertically spaced bearings 30 and 31, in each case, between which central portions 32 of. the members do are hingedly carried on vertical pins or rods 33 journaled in the bearings 30 and 31 of the members K. The members J have outwardly extending and vertically spaced arms 3 1 and 35 which terminate in the hearings j and, j, respectively. e I y The tubes 16, connectingthe bearings 21 and 22 of member J areslotted at 36 toreceive'arms 37 which are pivotally attached at 38 between and to a pair of lugs39, 39 formed on the central portion 32 of member J; :Arms 3'? aresbent downwardly at 10, and are provided with bifurcated lower portions 41 between the fur-cations of which, in each case, a roller42 is pivotally mounted on an axis 43 for engagement with alternate convex and concave corrugations 44 and 45 formed on strips of metal or wood, asat L, L, etc, One of saidstripsL of the carriers A and rollers 42;

r The fore-legs- 46 and the hind-legs14t7 the figures H are arranged for connection, as-shown in Fig. 6,'w1th .a vertically slidahle rod 18 which extends downwardly through the tubes 16 and have their lower endsnormally resting upon the upper; gedg'esgo-f the arms 37, for the purpose of-movi'ng the'legs '46 and 47 backwardly and forwardly as the rollers 42travel the corrugated membersL,

so as to simulate the movementsyof a;run-* ng horse or animal. 1 7 r The upper endslrzof thetubesi16aresuit ably secured to the body 49 of th'e 'figures H,

while the rodst8 are slidably mounted in one or morebrackets 50 attached to the body 49.

fore1and hind-legs 4:6 and 17 by means of b'arsf5-1 and 52. Bar 51 is connected at its is provided foreac-h inner end at '53 with rod 18, and is connect-ed atits forward 'end ato with the upper portion 9f the fore-leg 46. I connected withthe body 49 at 55 bv means of a pin engaging an elongated slot formed in the'bar,"whilethe fore-legs 4 6 of members H are pivoted at 57 as shown. Ina similar manner the bars 52 are pivotally connected a'tjpoints'58 and 59; with the hind-legs 4 7 of members H and therod 48; Said bars are also connected at 60 to the bodies d9 by means ofapin movably'engaging anelongated'slot 61 insaid'barJ The are pivotedft'o'the body-4L9 at hind-legs 47 Said'bar is'hing d i 62. Thusthealterna'teelevation and'depressionof the bars; l8 willweffect a corresponding backward and forward-,movementof the ani nu Rods 48 are connected, respectively,with the a e I vmals-*-legs,-a6 and 47 toisimula'te the running movements of. a horse.

I The downwardmove mentrof rods {t8 may be limited. by means of pins, 53 Carried in the rod. and adapted to; en-

gage the upper ends of tubes 16, Thedown- 1;w-a1 :d movement of; tubes 16 may besimilarly orotherwi'se limited by means adapted to engage the upper end of sleeve 20, as shown at MembersI-I may be formed of laminations "of cardboard, wood or ;metal,,with therods l8,.legrs.l6 and a7 and bars 5i and 5 2'mounted .bet'ween two spaced laminations, so as to obscure the same from view.

The pins '33 which ,hingedly support the members J on the carriers A are provided at their upper ends with nuts Maud springs 65 interposed between said nuts and the upper vbearings3O of the members K for normally hdldingflsaid.pinsupwardly to the extent v ,of the tension of. said-springs. The lower endsofthe pins 33 areprovided with rollers V Q65:motmtecl for rotation in a-horizontal plane One of the ;dri.ven-shafts-,g, as shown 1n forpurposes hereinafter described.

Eig,,t, may-be provided with a pulley '66 -wlii'c h is operably connected with a' pulley may means of a belt. or chain68. "Pulley -67 ,ishfixedto .a longitudinal.,countergshaft 69 i which1isjournaled in.aplurality'of'bearings '70., 7O and extends longitudinally. over the bottom I) of the tableoutwardly of. the raised j portion ,2); Said shaft [serves to operate iafpair or more of sprocket wheels 71, 71'

' connected with similar sprocket/wheels 72, 72transversely alin'ed, therewith, and connected by meanszof link chains 7 3, 73. The

, sprockets. 72,. 72 are T carried on short shafts 7.4, 7 4 held in. pairs; of bearings .75, 5.; Preferablgv one ,ofith ese'ts-73j provided for each I setof hurdles I mounted transverselyofthe race course, asseen an. Fig.1, each set of hur- 'dles. comprising a plurality of sections ii, and

The chainsv 7-3- .are :pivotally, connected lmeanstofipins76,76,. etc-.,s.with the central portions of transversely,operating-blocks M,

M, etc,,,3rl1.ich operate -with the vchains 73 transversely. of the table T. Said blocks-have rvC esses; 77. for receiving the ,chains 73 and are provided with laterally formed flanges 78,78 which engage and movein transversely formed grooves79 :79 formed in the members bf for guidim, saidblocks intrue transverse ;l ines..-:;

,f, The blocks M are also-provided. with con.-

Y 1 vex centra1 .p, ortions;ZSOiwhich extend substantially above the plane: ofthe corruga- 'tiens aftfof' the .membersL, as (seen Fig. 6.

s the membe s H are moved h we: the sewer be-d e 0 the block "members b.

atgoi: ;about the t e the figures or size, if desired, so that during the movement of the blocks M in transverse planes,

should the rollers encounterone or more of the pins 81 the particular carrier A to which said roller is attached would neces- 'sarily be delayed until the chain 73 had moved sufliciently so that the said roller would clear the pin or pins 81. In such event, the clutch 9 on the shaft 9 of pulley B for a particular carrier A, would slip until the obstruction had been removed, also the particular figure H which was so. obstructed in its movement would be retarded while the other figures possibly progressed in their respective courses. I i f The idler rollers B'for the carriers Aare mounted onstuds 82 secured to themembers b by means of nuts and? washers 23and 24, respectively, as in the case of the standards 21. Thescentral portions -of the blocks, M

project upwardly through and move in trans-v under thebottom b and .upwardly through notches 84, 84, .etc., cut in the: edgesbf said The-device shown and described may be arrangedso that the rollers 65 will normally 7, clear the centralportions 80 of theblocks M,

andone or more of the units may be: arranged so that the rollers 65 connected. therewith would engage pins shorter thannthose engaged bythe other figures,forsprovidingfa differential of-some of theunits with respect to the others; 1 '1' V In operation, when thegmotor G is energized power is communicated to thendriwe shaft F,throughtheworms E and gears D to the shaft h, frictionally connected-1 with the pulleys B,thus causing thecarriers A, A, etc, to move in parallel planesgarounchthe course. Thetrans'verse chains '73, including the blocks M, M, etc, are operated, as'stated, from the drive shaft continuously forv impedingthe progress of the members Hat intermediate points, and for irregular periods of time. The members H are constantly operated to simulate the running of horses, and are intermittently operated to simulate the leaping of such animals forclearing the hurdles I. The operation may continue for a given lapse and may terminateat a given peiatzon-the course; as elected.-

5 overzthe'hurdles I. v t

- The forelegs 46 of the figures H'may be t ning movement of the animate being repre V 60 ing said figures.

Due to' theifact that the 'members M are not timed with the carriers A and said 1nernbers are of dlfierent character, it is 1mp0ssible topred'etermine the possible progress of 5 a given one of the members I-l over the course.

Themeansof mounting the figures H on the carriers A, as'shown in Fig, 6, adapts the 'figures to movement outwardly'from the carriers, and the slots 17 in the table top t may be made to conform to the usual oval or ellipse of the race course or substantially so,

the pivotal connection of the members J and Kserving .to accommodate the movement of the members H in courses of difierent curvatureand thecarrlers Amust necessarily folgotube '16 of rectangular crosssection, instead [of round as shown, and the arrangement of the member J should be such that the arm 37Will move upwardly for a distance suffr. cient to, elevate the figures H asthey move jointed as at 46 and'farran'ged in such a man- -nerf that' 'th'e legs will bend at the" knees when the'fig'ures' are simulating the running moveo ments of a horse, though this is not material to my invention." It will also-be understood th'at 'the connections of the io're'and hindlegs 46 and 47 respectively, with" the op e'rat- "ing 'rod 148, may he -arranged in any suitable manner, and different from that'shown in the I jdrawi'n'gs,forthe purpose of prov ding suiiici'ent movement to the legs 'andfor effecting the proper articulation of the legs insimula- What Iclaim is: I t

1. 'A steeple chase comprising an endless flexible carrier, means for operating-thesame, afigure operatively held thereon arranged' for'movement over a given course tion of the running=m0vements oi a horse.

thereby, and means associated wi-th; said car-' rier for "animating said figure duringthe movement thereof to simulate the limb movements of the animate being ofiwhich said :figure is a likeness.

I 2. A steeple. chase comprising a power driven flexible carrierfa figure recip'rocably mounted onan'd arranged for movement with said carrier and representative of an animate being, means a'dgacent sa d carrier for animating the'figure in simulation'of the animatebeing of which the same is a like ness,'-during the'continued movement ofsaid barrier, and means associatedwithfsaid ani matlngfmeans for lnt'erm ttently reciprocat- 3. A steeple chase comprising'a plurality of flexible 'c'arriersymeans for operat'ing the same in paral lel 'courses figures carried thereon and movable thereby and formed in the likeness of -animatebeings, said figures having movable limbs, and means adjacent thecarrier for operating said figuresbodily and for articulating the limbs thereof in a simulation of the beings of which they are the likeness. V

4. A steeple chase comprisingya continuous flexible carrier, figures reciprocably mounted thereon representative of an animate being and having limbs arranged'for articulation, a track over which said figures are movably disposed, and means including members engaging said tracks for articulating said limbs during the movement of said figure over a given course,-to simuiate therunning .movement of the animate being represented by saidfigure, andmeans associated with said trackiorreciprocating the figure during the movement of the carrier.

- 5." A steeple chase comprising a continuous fleXible -carrier, a figure reciprocably' mounted thereon representative ofan animate being and havinglimbs arranged for articulation, a track, and means including membersengaging said track for articulating said limbs during themovement of said figure over a; given'course, to simulate the run sented by said figure, and means associated with said track and for operating said track engaging members or intermittently elevating'said figurebeyond a normal plane of ments of an animate being.

movement for simulating the leaping move- ;",f'6.' QA steeple ichasecomprising a continuous carrier, driving means differentially connect} ed therewith, an articulated figure'represenu ing anfanimal. operably supported on said tardin'gthe progress of 'said'figureQ carrier for movement in a given course,,means including atrack and members engaged there- V '7. A steeplechase comprising a plurality of continuouscarriers, driving means diiierrent ally'connected therewith, figures joperably support'ed'on said carriers, a course defining the movements of said figures, a track paralleling'said course, ammating means associatments ofsaid figures to simulate the running movements of an animal represented thereby,

and means associated with; the "track and:

by said animating -means for momentarily interrupting? the adapted ,to be engaged progress ofsaid'figure at regular intervals. 1

8. A steeplechase comprising a plurality of continuous carriers, means differentially. connected therewith, to permit the Qretardation of the carriers, selectively, figures oper- S upported onsaid carriers, a course 1 I fining the movements of said figures, means ediwith' said track for'iefiecting the moves i late the running movements of an animal repincluding a track and members movable thereover for animating sa1d figures to slmuresented thereby, and means associated with said track and engaged by the animating means for additionally moving said figures at intervals to simulate the leaping movefigures to simulate the running movements of' ments of an animal.

9. A steeple chase comprlslng a plurality of continuous flexlble carriers, means differentially connected therewith, permitting the, retardationof the members selectively supported on said carriers, a course defining the movements of said figures, means including a track and members movable thereover for bodily reciprocating and animating said an animalrepresented thereby, and means disposed in the paths of said animating meansfor momentarily retarding the same to permit one or more of the figures to progress faster than the others.

' 10. A steeple chase comprising a table having a race course thereon, a plurality of flexible carriers operably mounted below said course, figures mounted for operation above said course and operably connected with said carriers, a track, animating means including members engaging said track for operating said figures to simulate the running movements of an animal, means disposed in the path of said animating members for intermittently elevating said figures to simulate the leaping movements of an animal, and

means operable in planes transverse to the movement of said figures and engaged by said animating members, arranged to interrupt and retard the progress of said figures at intervals, as described.

11. A steeple chase comprising a supporting member having a race course on the top thereof, a plurality of parallel carriers mounted below said course, a driving mechanism differently connected with said carriers for permitting the retardation thereof, figures mounted for movement around said course and arranged for operation to simulate the running and leaping movements of an animal, and independent means connected with said figures for effecting said running and leaping operations, as described.

12. A steeple chase comprising a table having spaced bottom and top. portions, an endless flexible carrier operatively mounted between said top and bottom portions, said top having an endless slot therein, above said carrier, a corrugated track on said bottom below said carrier, a figure movably disposed above said too and provided with movable limbs, means mounted on said carrier con- "nected with the body and the limbs of said figure and with said track for reciprocating the body and moving the limbs thereof during the operation of said carrier.

13. A steeple chase comprising a'table having spaced bottom and top portions, an endless flexible carrier operatively mounted between said top and bottom portions, said top having an endless slot therein above said carrier, a corrugated track on said bottom below said carrier, a figure movably disposed above said top and provided with movable limbs, means mounted on said carrier connected with the body and the limbs of said figure and with said track for reciprocating the body and moving the limbs thereof during the operation of said carrier, and means associated with the track for interrupting and retarding said figure as described.

14. A steeple chase comprising an endless flexible carrier, a bracket fixed thereto, a supporting member carried on said bracket, a pair of telescoping members reciprocably mounted on said supportin member, a figure comprising a body and limbs connected respectively with said vreciprocable members, a track disposed below said carrier and means engaging said track and said reciprocable members for respectively reciprocating said figure bodily and articulating the limbs thereof for the purpose described.

15. A steeple chase comprising an endless flexible carrier, a bracket fixed thereto, a supporting member carried on said bracket, a pair of telescoping members reciprocably mounted on said supporting member, a figure comprising a body and limbs connected respectively with said reciprocable members, a track disposed below said carrier and means engaging said track and said reciprocable members for respectively reciprocating said figure bodily and articulating the limbs thereof for the purpose described and means associated with said track and effective at irregular intervals for retarding the movement of said carrier of said figure.

16. A steeple chase comprising a plurality of endless flexible carriers arranged in parallelism, means for operatively supporting said carrier in spaced relation to each other, a differential drive mechanism connected with said carriers, a table having a top with a race course thereon and slots therein above said carriers, figures yieldably supported on said carriers and disposed above said top, said figures having a body and limbs, independent means for supporting the body and limbs on the carriers, means for intermittently reciprocating the bodies of said figures and for articulating the limbs thereof during the movement of said carrier, and means for irregularly retarding the movement of the carriers for efiecting the movement of said figures so as to simulate a race over said course.

CLARENCE W. PARKE. 

